6th Annual Turkey Trot Los Angeles on Nov. 22 in DTLA

By Campus Circle Staff

Turkey Trot Los Angeles, presented by UAE-USA United, returns to Downtown Los Angeles on Thanksgiving morning, November 22, 2018. The run will raise money for those in need through The Midnight Mission. Runners dressed as Thanksgiving turkeys, pilgrims and pies will start and finish in front of historic Los Angeles City Hall. The route will take them around Grand Park, pass the world famous Disney Concert Hall, the Broad Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art, and down historic Spring Street, one of the oldest streets in Los Angeles.

This year's event will be hosted by Actor Nick Gonzalez of ABC's “The Good Doctor.” In addition, Bombas, will be donating over 3,000 socks to The Midnight Mission. Participants are encouraged to donate money or bring blankets and towels for The Midnight Mission. Funds raised will help people who are experiencing homelessness by providing accountability and structure to help them rejoin their communities.

“We created the Turkey Trot LA for all Angelenos to join as friends and partners, and Be Grateful Together on a personal, civic and global level,” said Generic Events Co-Founder Brennan Lindner. "All runners, walkers and fans will experience an amazing community event and have a direct impact on the continued epidemic of homelessness in Los Angeles. This year, we have expanded our partnership with The Midnight Mission to collect supplies and hygiene kits.”

"We are delighted to partner with Generic Events and The United Arab Emirates for this year's Turkey Trot," said Mike Arnold, President & CEO of The Midnight Mission. "Here at The Midnight Mission, we help people regain self-sufficiency and combat the issues surrounding homelessness and gratitude in action will help create bridges to significant transformation. We are honored to be partnering with these extraordinary groups to raise awareness of the people who are living on our streets, hungry and without a home."

Families can bring little ones for the "Widdle Wobble" (ages 2-12), a fun run around Grand Park, featuring a fantastic kidzone with face-painting, potato sack races and more kid-friendly fun. Participants can also enjoy memorable photo opportunities with the 20-foot tall turkey in front of the City Hall finish line.

This year, Turkey Trot LA runners will fill Grand Park for a feather-ruffling post event festival. Participants can purchase raffle tickets to help raise additional funds. Prizes include roundtrip airline tickets from LAX donated by Etihad Airways, Dodgers tickets, and more. After the race, participants will be treated to nutrition bars from Clif Bar, water from Whole Foods Market, and tasty treats from Capital One Cafe.

Events begin at 7:45 a.m. and end with the Widdle Wobble at 10 am. The cost to register is $20-$70 and includes a Turkey Trot LA T-Shirt and a unique Finisher Medal.